[Guest]

Hi there all,<br>
<br>
There will be a new aggressive fight coming up between the 2 major German car manufacturers (MB & BMW). <br>
<br>
MB is planning to introduce the all-new CLK somewhere next year (it was supposed to inter the market this year). Many strong rumors state that the new CLK will have a 6-cylinder engine with no 8-cylinder option. it is also known that the cabriolet model of the car wont see the light b4 the end on 2003 or 2004.<br>
<br>
In the other hand, BMW is getting ready for a huge boost in sales as the new BMW 6 series is getting prepared to inter the market some time in the next couple of years.<br>
<br>
Personally, I think that both cars would look great with engine power in the BMW side (since the CLK will not have a v8 engine).<br>
<br>
i have no idea about the prices of the 2 cars (I hope some body help me with that) but people say that the CLK will be more expensive. I don’t know if that’s a wise thing to do since there will be a strong competitive with a stronger engine as the BMW 6 series (not forgetting the M3). <br>
<br>
<br>
I was planning to buy a car this year but I’m willing to wait for more 1 or 2 year if I could get one of those cars my budget is around (50,000 $), so am I going the right way with my planning or do you think that the 2 cars will take more that 2 years to be released (or maybe more that 50 grands in price??)<br>
<p>

 

[Guest]

My understanding...

is that there will be a CLK500 with 5.0L V8 and a CLK50 with supercharged 5.0L V8. This is guaranteed if the new CLK is bigger and more expensive as rumors have suggested.<br> <br> The most recent stuff I've been hearing about the 6-series is that it will be an SL competitor, not a CLK competitor. Of course, that assumes the CLK doesn't move upmarket too far from it's current position. The last I read the top model 6-series would have a V10 and be priced above $80K.<br> <br> I think the AMG version for the USA will have the same engine as the replacement for the E55. That is currently rumored to be a 5.0L supercharged V8, but was once rumored to be a 5.5L normally aspirated V8 re-tuned to about 400hp. The CLK32 AMG will be produced, but I think not for the US market. <br> <br> My guess for US CLK offerings:<br> CLK320 (or CLK350) with between 220hp and 250hp and ~$45K<br> CLK500 with between 300hp and 320hp and ~$55K<br> CLK50 AMG with between 400hp and 420hp and ~$70K<br> add $7K to $10K for cabriolet versions.<br> <br> With a budget of $50K, you can definitely forget about the higher performance versions of either the new CLK or 6-series. Better to buy a top-of-the-line M3 or C32 than a bottom-of-the-line CLK or 6-er.<p>